Sex-Torture Case Witness May Take 5th

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jan 6, 2007

TAMPA - Steven Lorenzo is expected to take the witness stand next week in the case against the man accused of helping him drug, sexually torture and kill two men.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Porcelli told a federal judge Friday that Lorenzo likely will invoke his rights under the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify in the trial of Scott Schweickert. Porcelli will call Lorenzo to fulfill a legal requirement allowing him to introduce evidence seized from Lorenzo's home.

The evidence involves printouts of Internet chats between Lorenzo and other men in which he discusses giving a date-rape drug to unsuspecting victims.

Chats between Lorenzo and Schweickert do not mention the specific drug, and Porcelli said he needs to introduce Lorenzo's conversations with others to prove Lorenzo's intent in the conspiracy with Schweickert. To be allowed to use the evidence, Porcelli has to prove Lorenzo is unavailable as a government witness.

Jury selection is to begin Monday in Schweickert's case. Schweickert is accused of conspiring with Lorenzo to drug, sexually torture and kill Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz. He is charged with one count of conspiracy and two counts of drug-facilitated crimes of violence.

Lorenzo is serving 200 years in federal prison on similar charges as well as charges that he drugged and sexually tortured seven other men.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.